Hundreds of Indoor Activities for Kids Under 5

Indoor activities for kids are generally easy to do. But sometimes they get super boring.

Especially after doing them over and over again when you’re stuck indoors for several days (not to mention months!) when its so stinkin’ cold out!

I wanted to create a go-to list of indoor activities for kids – no matter what I’m looking for on one of those days.

Some of these are obviously going to be indoor activities (because who really crafts with buttons outside?). However, many of these I’ll be glad to have handy on rainy days, snow days, and just plain freezing cold days that we can’t go outside.

To make it easy to jump from section to section, you can click to each section here.

Indoor Gross Motor Activities

As you may know, I think its incredibly important to get kids moving every day, no matter what. In some shape or form, they need to be running, jumping, tumbling, bending, lifting, or something that gets them moving in a big way.

Not only does it help build their muscles and all that good stuff, but it also wears them out so they get a good night’s sleep.

To me, it just seems obvious that we need to create opportunities to get them moving every day. When we’re stuck indoors for many, many days, and sometimes months here in Iowa, it starts to get tough.

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I put together this list of ways to get kids moving. It’s divided by type of activity. Including scavenger hunts, obstacle courses for kids, throw things (safely), jumping games, and lots more to do indoors!

Go on an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Yes, first on this list, is of course, scavenger hunts for kids to do. They are my favorite way to get kids moving, and indoor scavenger hunts are no different!

Here’s some indoor scavenger hunts to entertain the kids while you’re stuck inside.

Indoor Fine Motor Activities

Going along with gross motor activities, fine motor activities are just as important. Kids need to gain fine motor control in order to do things such as write.

But fine motor skills go way beyond just writing. Kids can gain fine motor control by pinching, cutting, inserting objects and threading. Hand-eye coordination is every bit as important as strengthening their fingers.

Here’s a list of fine motor activities kids can do indoors. It’s split into categories such as pinching, cutting, writing, threading and so on.

A great bonus of fine motor activities is that these usually can keep kids occupied for quite a while so you can finally go potty in peace.

Indoor Fine Motor Activities that Focus on Pinching

Pinching activities are always an obvious fine motor activities to me. It helps kids gain control and strength in their fingers.

Indoor Sensory Activities

Often when you think of sensory activities, you think of a great big mess and it should be done outside. That doesn’t have to always be the case (and if it is, try these tips to keep sensory play clean).

And often when we think of sensory play, we think of the kids using their hands and touching things. Which it is and its a great way for them to explore new materials. But I just want to point out that there are five senses, so don’t limit it to just the touch sense.

I put together a list of sensory activities to do indoors. Including edible ones for those that still stick everything in their mouth. And a list of sensory activities that go beyond the touch sense.

Indoor Edible Sensory Activities

For the child that still puts everything in his mouth, these sensory activities don’t have anything to worry about.

They’re all edible and won’t harm them if they’re eaten (a little bit at least… don’t feed it to them!).

Reader Interactions

26 Comments

Thank you for this amazing and massive list of indoor activities for young kids! Keeping little ones entertained at home can be a challenge for any mom, but when you’re chronically ill you have to be extra creative on bad days. An inspiring list like this – with a little tweaking to fit their own energy levels and limitations – can be a life saver to keep both mom and kid(s) happy! So thank you!

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What Parents Have to Say…

There's always something new for us to discover, as well as old favorites. I am so grateful to have activities handed to us... Fun and easy ones that can be put together in a moment's notice! You're awesome Jamie and I appreciate you sharing your activities and ideas!! - Melissa C.

I feel like a new mama having so many fun ideas. I used to dread the afternoon, after naps, as it was so boring doing the same thing day after day but now I look forward to our "play" time!- Haley S.

You have changed how I spend time with my kid in so many positive ways! I am now one happy dad that no longer wonders what I am going to do with this little guy for the next 12 hours :P Your site was this first time dad life saver! - Jack C.

It is hard to think of things to keep the 3 year old entertained and engaged while taking care of the baby. Everything we have tried so far from your website, the three year old has loved. Your ideas are so simple and he can do them for hours. HEAVEN!- Karen I.